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construction and design

construction and designNewsrestaurants

Chipotle to Open First Restaurants in Asia in 2026

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed a joint venture to open restaurants in Asia for the first time. In partnership with SPC Group, a leading South Korea-based food company, Chipotle plans to open its first restaurants in South Korea and Singapore in 2026. “With a rapidly evolving dining-out business, fueled by preferences for variety and convenience, expanding into Asia presents an incredible growth opportunity for Chipotle,” says Scott Boatwright, chief executive officer of Chipotle. “Real food prepared fast is in high demand in these markets and with …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Chuck E. Cheese Expands to the UK, Marking First Location in Europe

by Katie Lee

Irving, Texas — Chuck E. Cheese, a global family entertainment brand, will be making its debut in the United Kingdom. In partnership with a dedicated local team, this will mark the brand’s first location in Europe. “Chuck E. Cheese is an incredible global brand that brings families together across cultures through the universal language of fun,” says Mario Centola, chief operating officer of Chuck E. Cheese International. “We’re thrilled to bring our unique magic for family fun to the UK. We have partnered with an outstanding team that shares our …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailers

Rack Room Shoes Continues to Open “Lighthouse Concept Stores”

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Rack Room Shoes is building on its strategic growth plan with the opening of seven new “lighthouse concept stores” across the country. The new locations aim to reimagine and enhance the shopping experience for the entire family. The elevated locations provide customers with an improved, multi-layered experience with better visual navigation and eye-catching elements throughout the store. The latest generation stores improve the wayfinding of Rack Room’s athletic assortment and enhance the presentation of key brands and seasonal assortments. The stores also include upgraded service elements, including …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Robert Talbott Opens First Permanent Store on Madison Avenue

by Katie Lee

New York City — American luxury menswear house Robert Talbott celebrated the grand opening of its new store on Madison Avenue in New York City on Sept. 10. The store opening represents a significant milestone for the brand as it celebrates its 75th anniversary and embarks on a new era of strategic growth and creative revival. Founded in 1950 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., by Audrey and Robert Talbott as a fine neckwear atelier, the brand has since grown into a full-fledged luxury menswear label known for uncompromising craftsmanship, timeless design and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Playa Bowls Refreshes Leadership Team; Continues West Coast Growth

by Katie Lee

Belmar, N.J. — Playa Bowls, a leading superfruit bowl brand with more than 340 locations, is fueling franchise expansion under a fresh executive leadership team following its 2024 acquisition by Sycamore Partners. Playa Bowls is poised to deepen its footprint from coast to coast. Since stepping into the CEO role earlier this year, John Cappasola has leveraged his 30 years of accomplished leadership in growing brands to drive Playa Bowls’ next chapter. Cappasola has served on the Playa Bowls board of directors since Sycamore’s acquisition and was previously CEO of …

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construction and designIndustry Voicessoftware/technologyvendors

Streamlining Retail Projects

by Katie Lee

— By Andrew Brister, AIA — How as-built consulting and technology drive faster, profitable store openings. Retailers managing large property portfolios face growing complexity — tight timelines, overlapping projects and pressure to hit grand opening dates. To stay ahead, many are embracing advanced as-built consulting powered by technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), laser scanning, mobile mapping and virtual tours. When integrated early in the pre-design and design phases, these tools help reduce uncertainty, align stakeholders and streamline execution. The result: faster, more efficient rollouts with fewer surprises. Managing Multiple …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Walmart to Open First Branded Stores in South Africa

by Katie Lee

Johannesburg — Walmart plans to open its first branded stores in South Africa later this year. With sites already in development, these new stores are set to open before the end of the year, with official opening dates to be announced in October. The company will share further details about store locations, hiring, and community initiatives in the coming months. “Walmart’s South African stores will offer a wide range of merchandise, including fresh groceries, household essentials, apparel and technology,” says Kath McLay, Walmart International president and CEO. “Walmart also will …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

TOGO’S Reaffirms Leadership of Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Campbell, Calif. — TOGO’S Sandwiches, a beloved West Coast sandwich chain, has reaffirmed Glenn Lunde as its chief executive officer. Lunde’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s position in the competitive fast-casual market, and he will continue driving the company’s growth and strategic direction. With Lunde at the helm, TOGO’S will advance several key priorities in the years ahead. These include enhancing loyalty programs, expanding digital and delivery capabilities and driving continued franchise growth. He will collaborate closely with the leadership team and franchise partners to ensure TOGO’S …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

QDOBA Inks 50-Unit Franchise Agreement; Aims to Double Footprint by 2032

by Katie Lee

San Diego — On the heels of a record-breaking year of growth and franchise development, QDOBA, America’s rapidly growing #2 restaurant brand in the Mexican fast-casual category, has signed one of the largest development deals in brand history. Barry Dubin of B Wild Investments, LLC has signed on to develop 50 new QDOBA restaurants across the states of Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. Initially, Dubin plans to focus on locations in Salt Lake City, St. George, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and areas surrounding Colorado Springs. Additionally, B Wild Investments …

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construction and designgreen building/LEEDgreen newsNewsretailers

IKEA to Open First New Zealand Store in December

by Katie Lee

Malmö, Sweden — Two years after breaking ground in Sylvia Park, Auckland, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has announced that it will open its first store in New Zealand on Dec. 4th, 2025. “The interest and anticipation for IKEA in New Zealand can be felt all the way to Sweden, and we are very humbled by it,” says Tolga Öncu, Ingka retail manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group). “Welcoming a new country to the IKEA family always brings special emotions, and we could not be more excited to …

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